Visiting the Cemetery

I

We took Aidan to the cemetery to show him where his Great Grandfather was buried.

It's a crazy thing trying to explain death and heaven and the concept of being buried.  It's even harder to explain that we believe life goes on after death and in our hearts we believe Grandpa is in the greatest of places.  But we're talking through it everyday and it helps he's in religion classes everyday and we've started back to church.  

Speaking of church, after Mass this morning Aidan took it upon himself to totally blind side our priest in a group of people and tell him his Great Grandfather had passed away.  All I can say is Thank God for Father Franks quick, sweet words and ability to easily speak to children otherwise we could have been there awhile.  

But I've totally gone off track.  Back to the cemetery. We took Aidan to the cemetery.  When we first walked over to the grave, I could tell Adam was a little weepy.  And rightfully so.  Totally unprompted Aidan clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at Adam and said "he was a good man".  To which Adam replied "yes, he was" before we all broke out in laughter. It was the sweetest thing and just what we needed. 

Adam's Great Grandmother is also buried in the same spot.  The flowers that were in one of the vases looked like they had been there since she passed away in the late 70s and the cement vases were literally crumbling.  

I made a call to the office at the cemetery, had them replaced and ran out and put together two small arrangements to spruce the place up for the fall. 

It was fun to do with Aidan and it gave us a chance to hear stories about Adam's childhood with his Grandfather.  He was more of a Dad than a grandfather so he had some good tales to tell.  And I know Adams Grandmother was touched we spent the time out there.  

Any day is a good day when I'm with my three boys but this was a really special Saturday morning.  

(Not a silk flower fan at all but that's the name of the game around these parts. Wait til' you see what I've got cookin' for a Christmas arrangement) 

Kellan 9 Months

Our munchkin is creeping up on his first birthday in December!  He turned 9 months old on the 12th!  And has officially been out of the womb longer than he was in.   He truly is the sweetest, happiest baby.  Just like his big brother was. 

He now has 3 teeth, walks around when he can hold on to something (ie coffee table), gives us nice open mouth kisses, calls "MA MA" when he wants my attention, waves "bye bye" and spells his name in five languages.  Only one part of that is a fib.   He could possibly be walking any day.  When he is tired or shy he nuzzles his head right in to our shoulders and it's the cutest thing!

We have been so lucky that he has been completely healthy because we are in between pediatricians and he hasn't been to the Dr. in months.   Hence the reason I have no idea how much he weighs or how tall he is now.   Although since he is so mobile, he is thinning out.  I don't think the word "thin" will be used to describe him anytime soon but he is dropping a few lbs.

He scares us to death every day when he eats.  It feels like he chokes on EVERYTHING.  I may have stated that before in a post.  He loves food (can ya tell)  but we are so limited on what I will actually feed him because I am so terrified he is going to choke. 

He is dying to be on the go with his big brother.   Everything Aidan does, Kellan wants to do.  Typical of siblings.  Luckily, Aidan LOVES his baby brother.  He welcomes him in to his room and lets him play with his toys daily, picks him up and kisses him when he gets home from school, they snuggle up on the sofa and Aidan will watch a movie while Kellan just stares in awe of his brother.  It's pretty much the cutest sibling relationship ever.  I hope they are this in to each other forever.  Adam and I really have tried to foster it but is has been easy because they just naturally love one another to death.  The squeal Kellan lets out every time he sees Aidan is amazing.  

We are just so crazy about this baby. 

We love you Kellan. 

Hey!!

I'm still here. 

I'm a busy little bee.

A happy, happy busy bee.

Our Nanny left us at the end of the summer and went back to school for the year.  We were so sad to see her go.  Adam and I are still talking about how mad at the world we are for not finding her sooner.   She was such a huge help over the summer.  I couldn't have made it without her extra hands around here and I honestly felt like she loved on my boys like I would.  If it weren't for her, Kellan may never have been forced to eat real food!  In just a few short months we all fell in love with her and can't wait for her to visit over Fall Break!  We are hoping to squeeze in some dates nights when she is home for the holidays so she can spend some time with the boys. 

School is obviously back in and WOW what a change up that was for us.  Aidan was in shock for those first few weeks.  He literally told my Dad he has to get up in the middle of the night to go to school.  He's never seen the a morning in the dark.  It was too, too funny.  We had a small incident with some older kids putting their trash from lunch down his shirt (and some other kids, not isolated to Aid) but you better believe...Mommy made a phone call, Nana secretly made a phone call (we're officially embarrassed) and Daddy was ready to knock out a fifth grader if he had to.  But we are finally in the swing of things and I think he's really going to be happy.  It's a great school.   His teacher is a doll and the principal compliments us all the time on how wonderful she thinks our boy is.  That feels really good. 

He wants to do everything...play soccer, join cub scouts, go to the Catholic High School games, invite new friends over for play dates, ride his bike every afternoon,  read ALL the books in the library and spend all his time with his father and my Dad.  I love that he's busy but I'm taking a little down time to get adjusted this first quarter of school.  It's a lot.

Kellan turned 9 months old.  Post to come.  He's in to EVERYTHING.  Adam drops him off at the childcare at the gym and he tells me every time the woman that works there says "this is the sweetest, happiest baby but MAAAAAH GOODNESS...he is busy".  No shit lady, why do you think my husband brings him to childcare when I am home.   So I can shower or vacuum or pee.

Adam's grandfather passed away on the 10th.   He lived a good long 90 years.  His heart had been ailing for years so we knew the time was coming.   Adam actually lived with his grandparents when we started dating to help them out some.  His quality of life had seriously declined and he was in the Hospice unit at the hospital near us.  After visiting him, Adam and I pushed to get him back home and he came home on the Friday before he passed away.  It's like he was comfortable in his own home and ready to pass on.  Adam was able to see him in his final hours and the last words he spoke were to tell Adam that he loved him.  I know it was a very special moment for Adam.   It was incredibly hard to say goodbye to a man that played such an important role in Adam's life but we know he is in a much better, better place.   His funeral was lovely.   It was a gorgeous day to celebrate some one's life.   The Army sent a bugler to play taps and four soldiers to do a 21 gun salute.  Adam's grandmother gifted him with the gun shells after the ceremony. 

That's about all that is up with us.  Hope you all are well!! Hugs from the Harvey's!